Takasago Ginza Shopping Arcade
The area occupied by the Takasago Ginza Shopping Arcade first began to develop as a hub for people in the Edo period (1603–1867) when a few blacksmiths opened small workshops there, giving the town its first name: Kajiya (blacksmith). As their number increased, the town became an attractive location for merchants to set up businesses, eventually including teahouses and brothels.
With the construction of Takasago Station in 1926, the area developed into a thriving shopping street called the Takasago Ginza Shopping Arcade. Stores sold a variety of goods and there was bustling foot traffic around the station. When the train station closed in 1984, trade in the area declined, and some of the stores were shuttered. But today, the arcade’s retro charm has made it popular again, as visitors can feel the atmosphere of an older era of Japan. A market held on the third Saturday each month attracts both traders selling local products and visitors wanting a taste of the arcade’s history.